MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- After two weeks on the job, Col. David Condit took the guidon from 22nd Air Force Commander Stayce Harris and accepted his charge as the new commander of the 908th Airlift Wing during a change of command ceremony at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., June 4.
While Condit has been in command of the wing since May 15, Saturday’s ceremony held during the monthly Unit Training Assembly was conducted in front of 908th members to signify the formal passing of responsibility, authority, and accountability to the new commander.
"I knew he was the right man for the job," said Harris upon offering Condit the position. "I knew it was a win-win, not only for the wing, but for our nation."
"I wanted to be with these great Airmen, with this great mission, this great community, and this great state, so that’s why I’m here. Because I chose to be," said Condit.
Condit served on active duty for 10 years prior to his service in the Reserve, and has experience as an Air Reserve Technician, Active Guard Reserve, and as a Traditional Reservist. Because of this, Harris said he "can speak to the opportunities and challenges of these statuses and how we as Reservists try to balance work, school, family, and serving our nation."
As he addressed the audience, Condit made clear, "I’m here for you."
"As a wing commander, my job is to ensure that we’re ready to fight our nation’s wars," he said.
He credits the unit’s current condition with the former Commander Col. Adam Willis, who is now commander of the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
"He set me up for success," Condit said of Willis. "I’m just excited to continue his legacy."
"I’m going to take my time, get to know the people, get to know the community, and really find out where we’re at," said Condit. "This unit is doing great, and this team is doing great, so I’m going to see where I can facilitate to keep us on track, keep us mission ready, and keep those combat forces ready to go any time."
The wing’s mission is to provide combat ready support across the spectrum of operations. "The key word is combat," said Condit.
It’s a refrain that’s stuck with him since he first mentioned joining the Air Force. His father, an F-4 pilot who was in Vietnam, told him that it wasn’t about the relationships, the adventures, or seeing the world. "You’re there for combat," Condit remembered his father telling him.
"I don’t want this wing to forget that this is a combat wing. We have members in combat today … that’s what we do; that’s why we exist. I don’t care what your role is, it makes a difference," he told the Airmen in the audience.
As commander of the 908th Airlift Wing, he will have 1,200 Airmen who will continue to airlift people and cargo, maintain aircraft, provide medical care for patients in flight and on the ground, and support combatant commanders with logistics, engineering, security forces, communications, and other critical services.
Prior to this position, Condit was the Operations Group Commander of the 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. He has been a professional aviator for more than 26 years. He has experience flying multiple aircraft including trainers, reconnaissance, special operations and airlift.